Italian Tofu – Manga!

Keep those shoe entries coming in!  Click here.  I’ll keep it open until 5p Pacific tomorrow

Though I’m a “recovering vegetarian” (14 years) and have been for about 6 years now, my go-to foods are still in large part vegetarian.  Maybe it’s because I hate touching naked meat (ugh, slimy chicken breasts), or maybe it’s because I’m not savvy with the master meat cooker (the grill), or maybe the chewy taste still freaks me out every now and then.

For all those reasons and more, I’ve become a lover of tofu.  But not just any kind — it’s got to be Xtra Firm.  (TWSS)  I recently found a brand of tofu that has blown away the competition.  I seriously could eat this, err, raw.  Does that make sense even?

Orzo, garlic and tofu

I’ve actually started to create meals around this tofu — it’s that good!  Though apparently my hubby thinks it’s disgusting.  One step forward, two steps back…dangit.

Cut up tofu and 3 ginormous cloves of chopped garlic

I heated about 1+ tbsp EVOO in a large non-stick skillet — medium/high heat.  After adding the garlic and stirring for about a minute, I added the tofu.  The high heat sears the tofu and gives it a nice golden brown color.  I then reduced the heat and loosely added a lid to ‘steam’ the tofu through.  (By this time, the oven fan had to go in since I went a wee bit heavy on the garlic — you really wouldn’t want to smell my breath today )

Meanwhile, I simply followed the directions on the back of the Trader Joe’s orzo and heated water to a boil, etc, etc.  I won’t bore you with the cooking pasta details.

While the pasta was cooking though, I added a simple marinara to my tofu/garlic mixture in the large skillet.  A hefty dose of red pepper flakes and cracked ground peppa, and the flavors were ready to simmaahhh!

Pair with a nice Pinot and wa-la, dinner is done!

My plate

I admittedly had another helping of the tofu and sauce.  I told ya I’m in love with this brand!

Have you made tofu Italian-style?  If so, how?

All-time favorite Italian dish? Pizza aside, I’m a sucker for good ravioli or manicotti.

Long work days and food guilt

Hi guys…I’m exhausted.  Can I just tell you that I’m not one of those people that thinks working 12+ hour deserves a badge of merit.  In fact, I think it makes me lame.  Lame for putting work above life.   I can appreciate and understand that it is necessary at times (and dare I say, fun!) but nevertheless it is still has the ability to drain me!

And did I ever mention how I get super crabby if I don’t eat on time?  It’s frightening.  You don’t want to see a 30 yr old throw a temper tantrum believe me.  And usually I’m good about popping a snack or something; but if I eat later at night, I feel like every calorie is just going to turn into fat on my thighs as I sleep, so I end up not snacking.

Sp pre-Date Night (Wed) I may have looked something like this:

Source

Yeah I’m a real peach to hang out with   Date Night wasn’t off to a good start.  I was late from work (after the hubby, which never happens).  And I had my cranky pants glued on.  I didn’t think those suckers were coming off for anything!

While Zach was chattin’ away at Gumba’s, he noticed my glazed over expression and one-sided silence, to which he smartly stated “How about I not talk to you until you’ve had 3 bites of food.”  Brilliant idea.

Sure enough, a few bites into my salad and I was A-Ok

The rest of Date Night was quite nice actually and I felt nearly de-stressed by the time the night ended.  WIN!

Now to recap the eats and exercises…

Wed Eats:

• 715a–12 oz coffee with 1tbsp creamer
• 9a–1 packet TJs cinn-apple oatmeal with 1 tbsp pecans
• 12–Asian salad togo’s with <1/2 dressing (400 cals according to the nutrition info online)
• 245p–Sbux venti 4pump vanilla nonfat latte
• 515p–half a medium banana
• 720p–romaine salad with oil/vinegar and 1.5 pieces garlic bread
• 740p–pasta primavera (zucchini, peppers, onions, carrots, asparagus).  I ate all the veggies and half the noodles
• 8p–1 glass of Merlot

Exercises: N/A

Thursday Eats:

• 745a–16 oz mug of home brewed maple nut coffee with 1+ tbsp vanilla creamer
• 845a–Nature’s Valley PB granola bar (on the way to a meeting)
• 1145a–small work-catered Italian salad (romaine lettuce, red onions, olives) and ZonePerfect Fudge Graham bar
• 3p–1 medium orange, 1 bag of Miss Vicky’s jalapeno chips
• 7p–3 slices feta/spinach frozen pizza (to which I added cut up green olives and arugula) (about 400 cals total) and 10 carrots with <2tbsp spicy hummus

Exercises:

• 2o minute walk with Naava
• 40 minute treadmill (variation of walk/running for 20 minutes, then 20 minutes at 4mph / 5deg incline)
• Ab work: 50 crunches, 1 minute (each) side planks, 60 dolphin planks
• Tricep dips (while watching tv)

So how do I feel about all this eating?  Guilty.  Yep.  Guilty.

I realize I haven’t eaten anything too horribly bad — or in excess, for that matter–but my current sedentary work situation is making me feel a major lard@ss, hence the guilt over eating anything that is not 100% fresh, nutritious and low-cal.  And yet, all I want to do is eat !  Why the heck is that?

What I am telling myself is that this proposal will be done and gone in less than 2 weeks at which time I can kick it back into health-mode and up my workouts.  Kauai is a month and a half away –>  motivation 8)

What motivates you?

Desk job?  or do you stand / move around?